Fastening device



April 21, 1959 v| ."1H.1=1 QRA FASTENING DEVICE Original Filed NOV. 5. 1951 4, ff Y INVENTOR- ATTORNEY FASTENING DEVICE Laurence H. Flora, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Tinnerman Products, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application November 5, 1951, Serial No. 254,925, now Patent No. 2,748,906,I dated June 5, 1956. Divided and this application February 23, 1954, Serial No. 411,804

2 Claims. (Cl. 189-36)V This invention relates in general to bolt fastened in- States arent O l 2,883,011 Patented 21, 1959 ice 2 but not of limitation, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout, and in which:

Fig. l shows a bolt holder in accordance with the invention which is preassembled with the bolt and adapted to be'applied to fastening position over an apertured edge portion of a panel, or the like, having a slot for passing stallations and deals, more particularly, with improvements in bolt holding devices for attachingv standard bolts, screws, rivets, and similar headed studs in fastening position in an assembly prior to the application of a cooperating nut device thereto for` securing the parts of the assembly.

This application is a division of prior copendng application Serial Number 254, 925 tiled November 5', 1951. In many assemblies, it is necessary or desirable to use a standard nut and bolt fastening means but it is usually a difficult problem, especially in blind locations, for the operator to hold the bolt in place as-the nut is applied, or otherwise, to maintain the bolt against rotation during the final tightening of the nut therewith. In most assemblies in which the rearward side of apart is not conveniently or readily accessible for holding a bolt in fastening position prior to application of the cooperating nut, it is necessary to resort to some form of riveting, welding or other attaching means for retaining the bolt is fastening position. In the average installation requiring a cheap, inexpensive bolt holding means, the cost of welding or riveting or installing clinch-on bolt holders, and the like, generally is so expensive as to make th use thereof prohibitive.

A primary object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved sheet metal bolt holder or retainer which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture in comprising a simplified construction for fitting onto the bolthead together with an easily and quickly applied clip type of attaching means adapted to the shank of the bolt in the application of the bolt holder to fastening position;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, as along line 2 2 of Fig. 3, showing the bolt holder of Fig. 1 in applied fastening position in an assembly;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of Fig. 2 on line 3--3, looking inthe direction of the arrows;v and Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the transverse center line of the bolt holder shown in Figs. l-3, inclusive.

Generally speaking, a bolt holder in accordance with the invention is best provided from a suitable sheet metal strip, preferably spring metal or cold rolled metal having spring-like characteristics. The bolt holding portion of the device is readily adapted to be provided in various forms to accommodate any selected type of bolt head together with an attaching portion in the form of one or more cooperating spring arms, or the like, by which the bolt holder is easily and quickly applied to fastening position on an apertured edge portion of a panel or other part substantially'by a clip or clasping type fastening action. The attaching means of the bolt holder is desirably provided by cooperating portions for clasping the opposite surfaces of the part to which the bolt holder is attached together with means on one of said portions receivable in the bolt hole in said part for locking the bolt holder in such atclasp a part adjacent a bolt hole therein tohold the bolt f the bolt is to be attached, together with means on one of said portions adapted to lock the bolt holder in attached fastening position. l

Another object of the invention is 'toprovide an improved bolt holder, such as described, comprising a onepiece sheet metal clip device, or the like, adapted to `be easily and quickly applied to attached fastening position on a part to hold the bolt in attached fastening position while otherwise retaining the bolt against axial displacement and/or turning as the associated nut is threaded thereon and tightened.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved fastening installation in which the aforesaid bolt holder is preassembled with the bolt and adapted to be applied over the edge of a part having a slot for passing the bolt shank in the application of the bolt holder to attached fastening position on such part.

Further objects and advantages and other new and useful features in the construction, arrangement and general combination of features of the invention will be apparent as the following description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, for purposes of illustration tached position.

Referring now, more particularly to the drawing, it will be understood that the fastening device comprising the combined bolt and bolt holder of the invention is of a character adapted for a wide range of applications and uses and may be installed in different ways depending on the nature of the installation. The bolt holder 30 is formed from a sheet metal section of a size and contiguration determined by the size and shape of the bolt head with which it is to be used. The bolt holder may be provided for any type of bolt head and, in the present example, is shown as constructed for a square headed bolt 5 from a piece of -sheet metal defining a base 31 and adjoining upturned anges 33 for engaging the opposite side faces of said square headed bolt 5. A pair of tongues 35 is stamped upwardly out of the base 31 in an advantageous manner whereby the area from which said tongues 35 are provided defines an opening for receiving the shank of the bolt 6. The bolt holder 30 is assembled with the bolt head 5 seated on the base 31 and the side flanges 33 engaging the opposite side faces of the bolt head to prevent relative rotation thereof while the tongues 35 are disposed iin overlapping engagement with the top of the bolt head 5 to prevent-axial displacement of the bolt from 4assembled relation with said bolt holder 30.

At opposite ends of the fastener base 31, there are provided a pair of attaching arms 37 which are bent downwardly and outwardly from the plane of the base 31 in a manner to define pronounced shoulders 38 adjoining said base 31. These arms 37 otherwise extend inwardly in inclined relation toward the base 31 and terminate in outwardly ared ends 39 for facilitating the initial application of the bolt holder to attached position over the edge of an apertured supporting panel P". n

The supporting part in the form of a panel P, or the like, is prepared with a T-shaped opening, as best seen in Fig. 1, comprising a slot 40 leading to an elongate bolt hole 41. If desired, the lslot 40 may be omitted and the bolt hole 41 provided as a simple transverse opening such that the edge of the panel is imperforate and of maximum strength where necessary or desirable. The combined bolt andf bolt holder is,y applied to the panel opening, as. illustrated in. Eig.. 1r in a manner to. position the. `bolt head at the rearward side. of said panel P while the shank 6 projects from the forward side thereof in position fory the application ofi 'ai nutN theretmfor. securing; one or more cooperating parts.A' B toI said panel P".y The fastening device is.: applied by 4advancing the. bolt shank 6 through;.the: slot 4l! with.: the base; 30-of the bolt holder seated. onthe. rearward side of said panel P, and simultaneously; slipping the. free ends of the arms3l7; through the hole 4tlfr,om the rearward: side. of panel. P" to extend to the opposite forward side of; said panel- P. The outwardly flared extremities.: 39 onf said arms 37' facilitate this; action. by causing a. graduali outward camming; of said `arms 37 over the engagededge of the boltxhole 41..

The bolt holder is then advanced to: the fully attached position thereof in which the shoulders 38 onl the arms 37'y lsnap into the bolt hole 4].- irr engagement withtthe adjacent. marginal edge portion of saidopening 41, sub:- stantial-ly as seen Eigs.. 2 and. 3. The: lshoulders 3S, accordingly, lock; the bolt holder infullyY attached position with the base 31 of. the'bolt holder engaging therearward side of the panel P" in cooperation with the arms 31 engaging. the forward' side of said panel P".

When the bolt hole is provided Ias a simple transverse opening without the slot 40, the combined bolt and bolt holder is readily applied to a similar attached position by inserting the lbolt shank 6 through the hole 41 and canting and working the device as necessary for the arms 37 to pass through said. opening and engage the forward side. of the panel P" in cooperation with the base 31 engagingthe rearward side of said panel P,V as aforesaid.

The bolt holder, in. any form, preferably isk constructed of relatively thin 'sheet metal the thickness of which is selected. according to service requirements andthe predetermined size of the bolt to be retained thereby.. The bolt holder is most effective whenv provided of spring metal suitably springV tempered and otherwise. treated to give the desired toughness and hardness. A cheapV and highly effective bolt holder may be provided from cold` rolled metal such as cold rolled steel which is. untemperedbut of a spring metal nature and capable of providing a durable and reliable fastening device. as and for the purposes described.

Whilev the invention has been described in detail with aspecific example, such example is intended as an illusf tration only, inasmuch as the invention fully contemplates various modiiications which may be provided. without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention.

Wha-t` is claimed is:

l. A fastening assembly comprising a panel provided with. an elongated bolt hole and a combined bolt and bolt holder in substantially the form of a clasp. securing said bolt in` said bolt hole with the bolt head positioned over said. bolt hole said. bolt holder comprising a sheet metal body providingl a base having an opening receivingthe shank of said bolt with the head of, said. bolt bearing on the; upper side of said base, said base having partially severed areas at opposite faces of said bolt head providing a pair of arms spaced laterally outwardly from said clamping member and bent to project from the underside of, said` base. eachY of- Isaid arms comprising an inner section bent generally,` diagonally outwardly from the plane of said base and an outer section merging with said inner section and bent generally diagonally inwardly toward said base, and portions provided from said base in the spaces between said bolt head and said arms bent to project from they upper side of said base into abutting relation with said bolt head the. shank of said bolt extendingl through said' bolt, holeand projecting normal to said panel, said base of the bolt holder seating on one surface of said panel over said bolt hole and said pair of'armsr extending through said bolt hole along the major axis of the. latter and clasping thev opposite surface of said panel in cooperation with said base, each of said inner sections of said arms being received in said bolt hole in generally abutting relation with a defining surface thereof and retaining the bolt holder in attached position.

2. A fastening assembly comprisingv a panel provided with an elongated bolt hole and a combined boltand bolt holder in substantially the form of a clasp securing said bolt in said bolt hole with the bolt head positioned over said, bolt hole, said bolt holder comprising a sheet metall body providing a. base having an opening receiving the shank of said bolt with the head of said bolt bearing on the upper side of said base, said base having partially severed' areas at opposite. faces of said bolthead providingv a pair of arms spaced laterally outwardlyv from said bolt head1 and bent to project from the underside of said base, flanges provided from said basein the spaces between said. bolt head and said arms, said flanges being bent to project' from. the. upper side of said base. into en` gagementwith said! opposite faces ofsad bolt bead, and tongues.l provided on said base between. said? flanges engagingy other faces'l of. said bolt head, the shank of saidl bolt. extending through. said. bolt hole and projecting norrnahtos said panel,. said base. ofv the bolt holder seating on one surface'1 of said panel over said, bolt hole and said pair of arms extending through said` bolt hole along the major axis: of the latter and clasping the opposite surface of said' panel in cooperation with said base, and shouldersproviding on said arms adjacent said base and ex.- tending generally outwardly from the4 plane of the. latter, said. shouldersY being received in said. bolt hole in generally' abutting relationship` with a defining surface thereof and; retaining the bolt holderin attached position.

References; Cited. in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

